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25 Technical Questions For Non-Tech Product Managers [With Answers!]
As a non-technical Product Manager (PM), you play a crucial role in bridging the gap between business and engineering teams. While you don’t need to code, understanding key technical concepts helps you communicate effectively, make informed decisions, and contribute meaningfully to product development.
This article covers 25 essential technical questions to help you navigate discussions on API basics, system design, and engineering collaboration.
Technical Questions For Non-Tech PMs: API Basics
1. What is an API, and why is it important?
An API (Application Programming Interface) allows different software applications to communicate with each other. APIs enable integrations, automate processes, and allow services to function smoothly together.
2. What are RESTful APIs?
RESTful APIs follow the principles of REST (Representational State Transfer) and use standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to manage resources. They are stateless, scalable, and commonly used in web applications.
3. What is the difference between REST and SOAP APIs?
REST is lightweight, uses JSON, and follows standard HTTP methods, while SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is more complex, relies on XML, and includes built-in security features. REST is generally preferred for web services due to its simplicity and speed.
4. What is an API request and response?
A request is sent from a client to a server to perform an action, while a response is the data sent back. Requests usually include method types (e.g., GET, POST) and parameters, while responses contain the requested data or an error message.
5. What is an API key, and why is it needed?
An API key is a unique identifier used to authenticate requests and prevent unauthorized access. It helps secure APIs by ensuring that only approved users or applications can access them.
System Design & Architecture Questions for Non-Tech PMs
6. What is system scalability?
Scalability refers to a system's ability to handle increased workload efficiently. It can be achieved through vertical scaling (adding resources to a single server) or horizontal scaling (adding more servers).
7. What is the difference between monolithic and microservices architecture?
Monolithic architecture has all components tightly integrated into a single system, while microservices architecture breaks down applications into smaller, independent services that communicate via APIs. Microservices offer better scalability and flexibility.
8. What is caching, and why is it important?
Caching stores frequently accessed data in a temporary storage location (e.g., browser cache, CDN) to improve performance and reduce server load. It speeds up response times and enhances user experience.
9. What is a database index?
A database index is a data structure that improves the speed of data retrieval operations. It functions like an index in a book, allowing the system to find data quickly without scanning the entire table.
10. What is the role of a load balancer?
A load balancer distributes incoming network traffic across multiple servers to ensure no single server is overwhelmed, improving reliability and performance.
Working with Engineers
11. How should a PM handle technical trade-offs?
A PM should understand business goals and collaborate with engineers to balance feasibility, cost, and speed. Prioritizing based on customer impact, long-term scalability, and available resources helps make informed decisions.
12. What is the best way to communicate technical requirements to engineers?
Use clear and structured documentation, such as user stories and acceptance criteria. Focus on the problem, expected outcomes, and constraints, while allowing engineers to determine the best technical solution.
13. How can a PM ensure alignment between technical and business teams?
Regular cross-functional meetings, shared product roadmaps, and clear documentation help align technical feasibility with business goals. Encouraging open discussions and feedback fosters collaboration.
14. What is a technical debt, and how should a PM manage it?
Technical debt refers to the extra work required due to choosing quick, short-term solutions instead of optimal long-term ones. PMs should work with engineers to prioritize reducing technical debt while maintaining product delivery.
15. How can a PM help engineers stay motivated?
Recognizing their contributions, giving them autonomy in technical decisions, and aligning product goals with engineering challenges can keep engineers engaged and motivated.
Performance & Security
16. What is latency, and how does it affect user experience?
Latency is the time it takes for a request to travel from the client to the server and back. High latency causes slow response times, negatively affecting user experience. Optimizing databases, caching, and network requests can reduce latency.
17. What are some best practices for securing a web application?
Using HTTPS, validating user inputs, implementing authentication and authorization (e.g., OAuth, JWT), and protecting against common vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) are essential security measures.
18. What is the difference between authentication and authorization?
Authentication verifies a user’s identity (e.g., login credentials), while authorization determines what actions they can perform after authentication (e.g., admin vs. regular user permissions).
19. How can a PM ensure high application availability?
Implementing redundancy, failover strategies, auto-scaling, and real-time monitoring helps ensure high availability and minimize downtime.
20. What are common performance monitoring tools?
Tools like New Relic, Datadog, and Prometheus help track application performance, detect bottlenecks, and provide insights for optimizing system health.
Emerging Technologies & Trends
21. What is cloud computing, and why is it important for modern applications?
Cloud computing provides on-demand computing resources over the internet, eliminating the need for on-premises infrastructure. It enables scalability, cost-efficiency, and flexibility, allowing businesses to focus on product innovation rather than server maintenance.
22. What is containerization, and how does it benefit software deployment?
Containerization packages applications and their dependencies into standardized units called containers. Tools like Docker and Kubernetes help streamline deployment, improve scalability, and enhance portability across different environments.
23. What is CI/CD, and how does it improve development speed?
CI/CD (Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment) automates software testing and deployment, ensuring that changes are integrated frequently and delivered quickly. This process enhances code quality and reduces manual intervention.
24. How does AI and machine learning impact product development?
AI and machine learning enable personalized user experiences, predictive analytics, and automation of complex processes. Understanding how these technologies work can help PMs integrate them effectively into products.
25. What is the role of DevOps in product development?
DevOps bridges the gap between development and operations teams, ensuring faster and more reliable software delivery. It emphasizes automation, collaboration, and continuous monitoring to improve efficiency.
Conclusion
Understanding these technical concepts will help non-tech PMs collaborate more effectively with engineers, make informed decisions, and build better products. By asking the right questions and grasping technical fundamentals, PMs can bridge the gap between business and technology, leading to successful product development.
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